Saudi Arabia lists 12 Hezbollah leaders as terrorists

Riyadh, Nov 26 (IANS) Saudi Arabia on Thursday listed 12 Hezbollah leaders as terrorists, and a number of regional entities as supporters of terrorism, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The 12 were added to the list due to their involvement in Hezbollah operations, and their companies’ financing of the group’s militia activities.

The latest list included Mohammed Yousif Mansoor, also known as Sami Shahab, who was jailed in Egypt on national security charges; Adham Tubaja and his company, Enma tourism; Qasim Hajij and Mustafa Baderaldeen.

Baderaldeen was a suspect in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Assets of the 12 individuals have been frozen, and Saudi citizens were prohibited from carrying out any transactions with them.

In May, Saudi Arabia added two Hezbollah leaders, Khalil Harb and Muhammad Qabalan, to its terrorism list. Both were accused of supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through recruiting and dispatching fighters, and of financing various factions within Yemen.

Riyadh said Harb and Qabalan were military leaders overseeing terrorism operations in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia has vowed to fight Hezbollah’s “terrorist activities” with all its might.